TEXAS

[Bart]

I never considered myself a "vintage" diver. When I started diving in 1969, I had all the new and best equipment of that day, and continued to buy most of my additional equipment through the mid-1970s. I quit buying most equipment then, because it got flimsy, and I wasn't in a fashion show. I did update to aluminum tanks, which I like, but those new BCDs are inferior to some of the "vintage" horse collar types. I've had to replace some gear, like wet suits. Fortunately, even though I dive often mainly in fresh water, that "vintage" gear has lasted.

In this case, "vintage" may mean old, but it also means "superior".

So whether you consider yourself "vintage" or "superior", are there any of you in Texas, and do you dive PK, Travis, Canyon or Amistad?

[Randall Gray]

Hello Bart:

Yes, I live in Texas and have dived in Possum Kingdoom, Travis, Lake O' the Pines, Caddo (belive it or not) and others in Texas in the early sixties circa, 1960 - 1963. I have recently recovered from a coma and have started diving again. Just kidding about the coma!

Randy ;D

[Michael]

Bart

Read your emails from last year. You still looking for vintage diving partners? Let me know

MIchael

[Broxton Chuck]

Hello Bart. I totally agree with you. Who wants a bunch of plastic, covered with "D" rings all over? I still have my dacor horsecollar, and it still has the original co2 cart in it. Dated 1972! Take it on every trip. Your right, that stuff was built to last! Chucko

[nemrod]

I think there are several Texas guys here you could dive with I bet.

Yeah, with the advent of DIR and GUE and HOG and TECH and all this other stuff I cannot figure out these D rings things have become like a cult symbol. I think the one with the most D rings is the leader and then the fewer D rings you have indicates a lower status. I don't think I got any status!

I have an old Dacor horsecollar here and I plan to be using it in Fla on the vintage dive if all works out. Course I might not use any BC.

Last year I was down visiting a friend in Destin and broke away and went diving. I went out on a boat and there I was with all these guys diving in 80 to 100 feet on a wreck (forget the name) and they all had line reels, multiple lights, and had doubles and slung bottles for deco. Hmmm, there I was with two old Teknas, one ditty bag and not much more. Now we dove the same place, I was down as long as they were, did everything they did, the wreck had been cut for access before being sunk so there were no hazards or even any real overhead and here all these guys in their Tech gear!!! Whatever. They had bunches of D rings, I gonna be getting some of those, on order as we speak, I ain't gonna be outdone on the D rings again. Nemrod

[over the hill chuck]

Lets us guys with the horse collars, the ones with NO D rings start a contra dive club, where we dive in our t shirts, wearing sox instead of booties, using steel tanks, j valves, and a horsecollar. That will be our "seal of approval" I showed my Dacor horsecollar to some girl at the padi dive shop at pennycamp reef last month, and she didnt even know what it was? That says a lot about the divers they turn out these days. If I had walked in with a BC covered with several hundred "D" rings she would have likely stood up and saluted! As it was she was confused I could dive with a snorkel vest, and that they wernt allowed. Thats interesting because I was certified with that vest! Guess what I did?

[Captain]

Quote "As it was she was confused I could dive with a snorkel vest, and that they wernt allowed. Thats interesting because I was certified with that vest! Guess what I did? "

That brings a interesting thought to mind. Do you think if I present my original 1970 YMCA certification card they will let me dive with the gear I was certified with in 1970. Might be fun to try.

Tom

[seakrakken]

Hi Bart and Michael and Randall,
I'm here in the Dallas area. Last December I was at Canyon Lake for a week. I took a quick dip on the 28th at Jacobs Creek. I wanted to hit North Park but, it was closed that day. The water was a balmy 50 F and visibility was approx 8-10 ft. Water was choppy due to the winds. Bottom was the typical limestone rock with scattered outcroppings of mesquite. This area is only recently underwater again thanks to the recent flooding putting the lake level back to its proper level after the years of draught. If you get a chance send me an email and we can arrange to do something together. [e-mail]

[Buzz]

Hi Gang,

I'm down here in Houston......sounds like we may have enough Vintage guys to put together a vintage dive sometime this summer in Texas. If anyone is interested.....chime in.

Buzz

[Captain]

Hey Buzz, my daughter lives in League City so I woud be willing to make a vintage dive in the Houston area. Any possible dive sites around Houston.

Tom

[Buzz]

Tom

Nothing around here with any kind of visability.
Was thinking of something more on the order of Toledo Bend, if the vis is good. Lake Travis is also a possibility.
What part of Texas are you in.....anything in your area.

Buzz

[Captain]

I am in Louisiana west of New Orleans. I dove Toledo Bend last year. OK but not great. Thought there might be something in the Houston area.

Tom

[nemrod]

Just back from the Fla dive. If I have never mentioned it there is a brand new commerical dive site just east of Dallas and off I20. The site is beautiful and the water is probably 20 to 50 foot viz. The lake is semi natural I think. There are underwater platforms, fish and several other things to explore, they have a web site.

www.clearspringsscubapark.com/


I imagine if a big deal was not made of vintage gear and all sorts of bragging (lol) about it vintage diving could be done here.
James

[Buzz]

thats a good one too....

There is also one over by Waco....I think it's called Athens.
The temps ought to be about right in early to mid summer.
Anybody want to give it a try?

Buzz

[William Bonney]

BUZZ an y'all

Athen's is ok for class room diving, about 28 ', maybe 15 to 20 foot vis. If you get there early.

I've heard about Clearsprings for a couple of years, but have not dove it yet..........it's cold I'm told, even in August. Now that might be a good thing........was also informed it is an old rock quarry, just dreged this winter back down to 60 feet.

Travis is cold and dirty now days. What about rig diving?

Billy